How NOS are used
NOS can be used in many different ways. Awarding Bodies can create qualifications to train individuals for a job. These qualifications can then be used in an Apprenticeship Framework or a training programme.
Employers can create a job description to recruit new staff or a training plan to develop their skills. Also, individuals can research different types of jobs and match their skills/experience to those that are needed.
National Occupational Standards Strategy 2022 and beyond
Building on the strong foundation of the NOS brand, the strategy aims to make NOS even more usable and accessible and recognises the need for cross-cutting standards for transferrable skills such as leadership and management and digitals skills, to facilitate movement between sectors. The strategy also outlines plans to make NOS processes and systems more agile and accessible which includes continuing work to improve the NOS database and website. The NOS Strategy 2022 and beyond can be accessed via the following link:
UK Standards database
All of the completed and approved NOS are kept on a database – UK Standards. This is accessible to everyone across the UK and allows people to search for standards across a broad range of job roles and industries.
To ensure NOS are up to date and fit for purpose, they are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect the needs of industry and new NOS are also commissioned to reflect new and changing industries. A key part of the process for updating and creating NOS is consultation with employers and stakeholders across the UK. This is a chance for you to contribute your views and experiences and influence the future of standards.
For further information on National Occupational Standards in Northern Ireland, email: NOS.Reviews@economy-ni.gov.uk
Achievements
An infographic summarising NOS achievements in 2021/2022 has been published:
National Occupational Standards (NOS) Annual Report for 2022/2023 has also been published:
Reviews
Throughout the year Delivery Partners will be reviewing existing NOS and developing new NOS across a range of sectors. A vital part of this review and development work is seeking feedback from stakeholders.
Feedback is needed from across a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that NOS are up-to-date and fit for purpose and meet the needs of individual sectors. This includes employers, industry experts, training providers, further and higher education and other relevant stakeholders in Northern Ireland.
For anyone interested in contributing to the development of National Occupational Standards, live consultation events will be shared via our social media pages:
- Twitter - @economy_ni
- LinkedIn - Department for the Economy
- Facebook - Economy_NI
Energy Efficiency Assessment and Advice National Occupational Standards (NOS) Review
II Aspire has been working with professionals across the heritage and retrofit industries to develop the National Occupational Standards in Energy Efficiency Assessment and Advice in older and traditional buildings. (More information available at II Aspire)
We are now consulting on the content of the National Occupational Standards to ensure that they reflect industry best practice and what someone in the role needs to know and be able to do to carry out their job. We are therefore keen to hear the views of as many practitioners as possible, to make sure the content is relevant and fit for purpose.
We are particularly keen to hear from Retrofit Assessors, Retrofit Designers and Retrofit Coordinators and others who assess older and traditional buildings and provide advice on Energy efficiency measures.
Your input is hugely valuable and will help to define the Standards which will be used to shape courses and qualifications, job descriptions and other talent management tools for individuals, companies, trainers and educators.
How to get involved
The consultation should take about 10 minutes to complete and can be accessed at this online survey.
Deadline
The consultation will be running from now until 5pm on 26 January 2024. Please answer the consultation questions in as much detail as possible, reflecting your experience and current role.
If you have any questions about the consultation, please email ruth.roy@iiaspire.co.uk
We greatly appreciate you taking the time to participate and have your say.
Risk management National Occupational Standards (NOS) Review
Instructus Skills has been commissioned by Skills Development Scotland to review the National Occupational Standards (NOS) in risk management.
(More information available at Instructus Skills and Skills Development Scotland)
The review must be carried out through public consultations with industry experts, training providers and employers dealing with Risk Management.
How to get involved
The consultation is aimed at anyone who assesses or manages risk, whether this is only part of their role, or they are a risk management professional. We are interested in opinions ranging from operational risk assessment through to strategic risk management.
To contribute to the 2nd phase of the consultation, please fill in the online survey.
ScreenSkills NOS Review
ScreenSkills aim to develop skills and talent in the UK screen industry such as film, television, VFX (visual effects), radio and audio content creation and physical special effects.
To ensure that the updated suite of standards captures what currently is considered best practice in the industry, we encourage industry professionals to contribute their views to these standards reviews.
How to get involved
We are holding on-line consultation events. These events are to review the current Standards and ensure they are still suitable for use across the UK. We are looking for industry experts in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England.
These sessions are not a training course, but an opportunity for you to share your experience in these roles with us.
Details of the on-line consultation events and dates can be found Help us improve National Occupational Standards for screen industry roles 2023.
If you would like to take part in the review of the NOS or if you require any further information, please contact the ScreenSkills team using the following email: Krisztina.Biliczky@screenskills.com
Electric and Hybrid Vehicle NOS Review
The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) is reviewing Electric and Hybrid Vehicle National Occupational Standards (NOS) that feed directly into qualifications, and it’s time to show the results. (More information about NOS is available at IMI NOS)
How to get involved
Expert Working Groups have discussed what these standards need to include, and the draft documents are now available for your comments.
In addition to reviewing the existing NOS, two new NOS have been developed for assessing the condition of EV high voltage batteries and EV conversions.
To see all draft NOS, go to current NOS projects
The Wider Consultation phase will run from 18 December 2023 to 26 January 2024.
To leave your feedback, fill in the online survey
Deadline
The review will be completed by 31 March 2024.
Bricklaying National Occupational Standards (NOS) review
CITB, as the standards setting body, work in partnership with experts from across the construction industry to ensure the standards we use to judge training and competency are fit for purpose. The consultation process means that industry practitioners can define what great looks like in their occupational area – and without that process, high standards simply cannot be met.
CITB seek feedback from industry experts to form a set of single statements that define competence for Trowel Occupations (Bricklaying).
How to get involved
CITBs role is to reflect the opinion of industry, not define the standards. Without expert advice and input we cannot ensure the best quality standards are set. Standards are set via a process of consultation, so if you want the standards of your trade to be defined by your expertise, involvement in the consultation is the best method.
If you would like to be part of this exciting initiative, or you would like further information please contact matthew.gallichan@citb.co.uk who can set up an induction call to explain the set up for the working group.
Please invite any of your colleagues and professionals within your networks who might want to have a say to participate in the consultation.
Consultation Period
To ensure the updated suite of standards captures what is considered best practice in the industry, online review meetings will take place every 2 or 3 weeks from December 2023 to March 2024.
Data Engineering and Digital Product and Operations Delivery NOS Review
ODAG Consultants Ltd are an independent skills, education and workforce development consultancy with a focus on digital technology and advanced engineering skills. They provide a wide range of consultancy services for national strategies, regional developments and local programmes in vocational education, apprenticeships and higher education.
ODAG Consultants Ltd have recently commenced consultations for the following two NOS suites:
- Database design and implementation
- Data ethics, data journalism and data stewardship
- Network engineering
- Cloud engineering
- Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
How to get involved
The online NOS consultation hosting can be accessed from the following link: ODAG website NOS consultation surveys
Deadline
5pm on Friday 29th Dec 2023:
- Database design and implementation
- Data ethics, data journalism and data stewardship
5pm on Friday 12th January 2024:
- Network engineering
- Cloud engineering
5pm on Friday 19th January 2024:
- Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
Please contact ODAG if you are interested in these developments at admin@ODAG-tech.co.uk
Non-surgical cosmetic procedures Questionnaire National Occupational Standards (NOS)
Skills Active, the Standard Setting Organisation for Active Leisure, Learning and Well-being and Habia who are part of the Skills Active group have been commissioned to develop further non-surgical cosmetic procedures NOS. This follows on from the development of NOS for Beauty Aesthetics in 2019 and the development of the Advanced Aesthetics NOS published in March 2021.
How to get involved
Over the past few months, we have worked with teams of industry experts to develop the draft National Occupational Standards for Non-surgical cosmetic procedures, creating a robust and coherent set of standards. We would now like your views on what is being proposed in order to:
- share your expertise to raise skills and standards in the sector
- support and shape future qualifications
This will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete and can be found at this online survey.
Please only review the NOS units you have expertise in.
Please be mindful there may be formatting issues due to survey monkey constraints.
Deadline
This questionnaire is available from the 21st December 2023 until 13th January 2024.
Feedback from this UK wide consultation will then inform the final drafting of the NOS. This NOS project is due to conclude in March 2024 following which the new NOS will be made available.
If you know others who may be interested in taking part in the consultation, please pass on the link to this online survey.
Data Engineering & Digital Product and Operations Delivery National Occupational Standards (NOS) Review
ODAG Consultants Ltd. are an independent skills, education and workforce development consultancy with a focus on digital technology and advanced engineering skills. They provide a wide range of consultancy services for national strategies, regional developments and local programmes in vocational education, apprenticeships and higher education.
ODAG Consultants Ltd have recently commenced consultations for the following two NOS suites:
- Database design and implementation
- Data ethics, data journalism and data stewardship
- Network engineering
- Cloud engineering
- Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
How to get involved
Please access the following link: online NOS consultation
Deadline
5pm on Friday 29th Dec 2023:
Database design and implementation
Data ethics, data journalism and data stewardship
5pm on Friday 12th January 2024:
Network engineering
Cloud engineering
5pm on Friday 19th January 2024:
Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
Please contact ODAG if you are interested in these developments at admin@ODAG-tech.co.uk
Energy & Utility Skills National Occupational Standards (NOS) Review
Energy & Utility Skills invites industry stakeholders to take part in online consultations for revised National Occupational Standards (NOS).
Following a series of industry workshops, we’re pleased to advise our online consultations are now open for industry to review and feedback on revised NOS suites.
How to get involved
To access the online consultations and provide your feedback, please click on the relevant below links.
- Multi-Utility Network Construction – closing date 5pm Friday 19 January 2024
- Water Fitting Regulation & Byelaw Enforcement – closing date 5pm Friday 19 January 2024
- Smart Metering – closing date 5pm Friday 19 January 2024
Deadline
The closing date for the online consultations is 5pm Friday 19 January 2024.
Further details can be found at Help shape National Occupational Standards for the energy and utility sector.
If you have any questions or would like more information about our programme of NOS reviews, please contact us at standardsreview@euskills.co.uk .